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Philosophy and Classical Studies

Why Major in Philosophy at Fisher?

According to the American Philosophical Association: "The study of philosophy serves to develop intellectual abilities important for life as a whole, beyond the knowledge and skills required for any particular profession. Properly pursued, it enhances analytical, critical, and interpretive capacities that are applicable to any subject-matter, and in any human context."

In short, the study of philosophy touches all areas of life and is applicable to just about any profession you may want to pursue.

About the Major in Philosophy

With a major or minor in philosophy, you will gain the skills needed to effectively articulate and debate ideas while cultivating your self-expression and developing a passion for life-long learning.

You will be challenged to think critically and constructively about the most fundamental speculative and practical issues confronting us.

Courses cover a wide range of topics including human nature and the place of humans in the world; space, time, and causality; truth, goodness, and beauty; and God.

At Fisher, you'll also have the option of double majoring in another area, such as History, Political Science, Business, or Nursing. Combining majors in this way can be useful if you plan to further your education in the social sciences, or if you are thinking of pursing a career in medicine, the law, or another related field.

Program Requirements

Philosophy Department Mission

Through the requirements for its Philosophy major (and Classical Studies minor), the Department strives to provide its students with an understanding of the theory and life-practice of Philosophy so as to give a framework for a fruitful critical confrontation with the most prominent issues in such areas as ethics, logic, political theory, theories of knowledge, and metaphysics.

This will require a familiarity with problems and means of evaluating their proposed solutions that would enable the student to pursue graduate study in Philosophy and facilitate graduate study in related areas.

On a personal level, students will be enabled to make informed judgments that will allow them to experience continued intellectual and personal growth, to practice responsible citizenship, and to be engaged in their chosen careers in a humane and enlightened way.

David White, Charles Natoli, Tim Madigan, and Joseph Lanzalaco.

Latest Philosophy News

11/12/2014

St. John Fisher College will be celebrating the 12th annual World Philosophy Day on Thursday, November 20. This year, the program will focus on ethics and economics. The event will feature keynote speaker, Dr. Jonathan Wight, Professor of Economics from the University of Richmond Robins School of Business, and six panel sessions with panelists from Fisher along with several area colleges and Irish universities. All sessions will be held in the Golisano Gateway Midlevel.
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10/30/2014

Students and faculty at St. John Fisher College will celebrate the annual “Four Freedoms Week” November 2-8 through a variety of campus-wide initiatives aimed at embracing the freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
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